Methods, infrastructure equipment and communications device

ABSTRACT

A method comprises receiving from an infrastructure equipment of wireless communications network slot configuration information indicating a configuration of one or more slots of a wireless access interface provided by a wireless communications network for communicating data to the communications device in the downlink and receiving data from the communications device in the uplink, the time divided slots of the wireless access interface each providing a plurality of symbols on one of more radio frequency carrier signals which can be configured differently for use by the communications device or the infrastructure equipment, the slot configuration information including an indication that one or more of the plurality of symbols are to be used for transmitting signals from the communications device or that one or more of the plurality of symbols are to be used for receiving signals at the communications device.

BACKGROUND Field of Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to infrastructure equipment andcommunications devices of communications systems, where multiple methodsmay be used to configured slot structures of transmissions between theinfrastructure equipment and communications devices.

The present application claims the Paris Convention priority of Europeanpatent application EP17194261.8, the contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

Description of Related Art

The “background” description provided herein is for the purpose ofgenerally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of thepresently named inventors, to the extent it is described in thisbackground section, as well as aspects of the description which may nototherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neitherexpressly or impliedly admitted as prior art against the presentinvention.

Third and fourth generation mobile telecommunication systems, such asthose based on the 3GPP defined UMTS and Long Term Evolution (LTE)architecture, are able to support more sophisticated services thansimple voice and messaging services offered by previous generations ofmobile telecommunication systems. For example, with the improved radiointerface and enhanced data rates provided by LTE systems, a user isable to enjoy high data rate applications such as mobile video streamingand mobile video conferencing that would previously only have beenavailable via a fixed line data connection. The demand to deploy suchnetworks is therefore strong and the coverage area of these networks,i.e. geographic locations where access to the networks is possible, maybe expected to increase ever more rapidly.

Future wireless communications networks will be expected to routinelyand efficiently support communications with a wider range of devicesassociated with a wider range of data traffic profiles and types thancurrent systems are optimised to support. For example it is expectedfuture wireless communications networks will be expected to efficientlysupport communications with devices including reduced complexitydevices, machine type communication (MTC) devices, high resolution videodisplays, virtual reality headsets and so on. Some of these differenttypes of devices may be deployed in very large numbers, for example lowcomplexity devices for supporting the “The Internet of Things”, and maytypically be associated with the transmissions of relatively smallamounts of data with relatively high latency tolerance.

In view of this there is expected to be a desire for future wirelesscommunications networks, for example those which may be referred to as5G or new radio (NR) system/new radio access technology (RAT) systems,as well as future iterations/releases of existing systems, toefficiently support connectivity for a wide range of devices associatedwith different applications and different characteristic data trafficprofiles.

The increasing use of different types of terminal devices associatedwith different traffic profiles gives rise to new challenges forefficiently handling communications in wireless telecommunicationssystems that need to be addressed.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure can help address or mitigate at least some of theissues discussed above.

Embodiments of the present technique can provide a method oftransmitting or receiving signals by a communications devicecommunicating under control of a wireless communications network. Themethod comprises receiving from an infrastructure equipment of thewireless communications network slot configuration informationindicating a configuration of one or more time divided slots of awireless access interface provided by the wireless communicationsnetwork for communicating data to the communications device in adownlink and receiving data from the communications device in an uplink,the time divided slots of the wireless access interface each providing aplurality of symbols on one of more radio frequency carrier signalswhich can be configured differently for use by the communications deviceor the infrastructure equipment. The symbols may be for exampleOrthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) symbols comprising aplurality of sub-carriers arranged in the frequency domain, eachsub-carrier in a symbol being provided as a resource element of thewireless access interface. The slot configuration information includesan indication that one or more of the plurality of symbols are to beused for transmitting signals from the communications device or that oneor more of the plurality of symbols are to be used for receiving signalsat the communications device. The method includes, in accordance withthe received slot configuration information receiving signals by thecommunications device in each of the one or more slots on the one ormore of the symbols allocated for receiving signals, and transmittingsignals from the communications device in each of the one or more slotson the one or more of the symbols allocated to the communications devicefor transmitting signals. The receiving the slot configurationinformation from the infrastructure equipment comprises receiving firstslot configuration information from the infrastructure equipmentindicating the configuration of a first plurality of the time slots, andreceiving subsequently at least one other slot configuration informationfrom the infrastructure equipment indicating the configuration of one ormore of the first plurality of time slots. If the at least one otherslot configuration information indicates that one or more of the symbolsof each of the one or more time slots are configured differently to thefirst slot configuration information, the method comprises determining adynamic characteristic of the first slot information and the at leastone other slot information, and determining a configuration of thedifferently configured one or more symbols by the communications deviceaccording to a conflict resolution rule based on the determined dynamiccharacteristic of the first slot configuration information and thedetermined dynamic characteristic of the at least one other slotconfiguration information. The dynamic characteristic may be for exampleone or both of a rate of change of the slot configuration information ora time duration over which the slot configuration information is valid.

Embodiments of the present technique can provide an arrangement in whicha communications device is configured to determine autonomously,according to a conflict resolution rule how to configure one or moresymbols, which maybe OFDM symbols of one or more time slots wheredifferent slot configuration information received at different timesindicate a different configuration of the one or more symbols. Theconflict resolution rule may be pre-determined according to a systemconfiguration so that an infrastructure equipment from which the slotconfiguration information was sent can also determine the way in whichthe communications device will configure the one or more symbols whichhave received conflicting configurations. The communications device cantherefore be configured with one or more symbols with conflictingconfigurations as either for uplink (UL), downlink (DL), reserved or forsidelink (device to device) communications.

Respective aspects and features of the present disclosure are defined inthe appended claims.

In [5], it is proposed that symbols with conflicting DL-ULconfigurations are treated as errors and that the link direction isunknown to the UE. It should be noted that although [5] stated anunknown direction, it does not state that it can be overwritten by amore dynamic indicator such as a DCI.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary, but are notrestrictive, of the present technology. The described embodiments,together with further advantages, will be best understood by referenceto the following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendantadvantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein likereference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughoutthe several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 schematically represents some aspects of a LTE-type wirelesstelecommunication system which may be configured to operate inaccordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 schematically represents some aspects of a new radio accesstechnology (RAT) wireless telecommunications system which may beconfigured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a Slot Format Indicator (SFI)indicating downlink and uplink configuration of multiple OFDM symbols ina New Radio slot;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a conflict between multiple methodsused to configure a New Radio slot;

FIG. 5 shows a part schematic, part message flow diagram representationof a communications system in accordance with embodiments of the presenttechnique;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a first method of resolving a conflictbetween multiple methods used to configure a New Radio slot inaccordance with embodiments of the present technique;

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a second method of resolving a conflictbetween multiple methods used to configure a New Radio slot inaccordance with embodiments of the present technique, in whichnon-conflicting symbols are not overwritten;

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a third method of resolving a conflictbetween multiple methods used to configure a New Radio slot inaccordance with embodiments of the present technique, including conflictresolution for “reserved” symbols;

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a first method of resolving a conflictbetween multiple methods used to configure a New Radio slot inaccordance with embodiments of the present technique, including conflictresolution for “reserved” symbols and where a new slot format may beused;

FIG. 10 shows a first flow diagram illustrating a process ofcommunications in a communications system in accordance with embodimentsof the present technique; and

FIG. 11 shows a second flow diagram illustrating a process ofcommunications in a communications system in accordance with embodimentsof the present technique.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Long Term Evolution Advanced Radio Access Technology (4G)

FIG. 1 provides a schematic diagram illustrating some basicfunctionality of a mobile telecommunications network/system 10 operatinggenerally in accordance with LTE principles, but which may also supportother radio access technologies, and which may be adapted to implementembodiments of the disclosure as described herein. Various elements ofFIG. 1 and certain aspects of their respective modes of operation arewell-known and defined in the relevant standards administered by the3GPP® body, and also described in many books on the subject, forexample, Holma H. and Toskala A [6]. It will be appreciated thatoperational aspects of the telecommunications networks discussed hereinwhich are not specifically described (for example in relation tospecific communication protocols and physical channels for communicatingbetween different elements) may be implemented in accordance with anyknown techniques, for example according to the relevant standards andknown proposed modifications and additions to the relevant standards.

The network 10 includes a plurality of base stations 11 connected to acore network 12. Each base station provides a coverage area 13 (i.e. acell) within which data can be communicated to and from terminal devices14. Data is transmitted from base stations 11 to terminal devices 14within their respective coverage areas 13 via a radio downlink Data istransmitted from terminal devices 14 to the base stations 11 via a radiouplink. The core network 12 routes data to and from the terminal devices14 via the respective base stations 11 and provides functions such asauthentication, mobility management, charging and so on. Terminaldevices may also be referred to as mobile stations, user equipment (UE),user terminal, mobile radio, communications device, and so forth. Basestations, which are an example of network infrastructureequipment/network access node, may also be referred to as transceiverstations/nodeBs/e-nodeBs/eNBs/g-nodeBs/gNBs and so forth. In this regarddifferent terminology is often associated with different generations ofwireless telecommunications systems for elements providing broadlycomparable functionality. However, certain embodiments of the disclosuremay be equally implemented in different generations of wirelesstelecommunications systems, and for simplicity certain terminology maybe used regardless of the underlying network architecture. That is tosay, the use of a specific term in relation to certain exampleimplementations is not intended to indicate these implementations arelimited to a certain generation of network that may be most associatedwith that particular terminology.

New Radio Access Technology (5G)

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a network architecture for anew RAT wireless mobile telecommunications network/system 30 based onpreviously proposed approaches which may also be adapted to providefunctionality in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure describedherein. The new RAT network 30 represented in FIG. 2 comprises a firstcommunication cell 20 and a second communication cell 21. Eachcommunication cell 20, 21, comprises a controlling node (centralisedunit) 26, 28 in communication with a core network component 31 over arespective wired or wireless link 36, 38. The respective controllingnodes 26, 28 are also each in communication with a plurality ofdistributed units (radio access nodes/remote transmission and receptionpoints (TRPs)) 22, 24 in their respective cells. Again, thesecommunications may be over respective wired or wireless links Thedistributed units 22, 24 are responsible for providing the radio accessinterface for terminal devices connected to the network. Eachdistributed unit 22, 24 has a coverage area (radio access footprint) 32,34 which together define the coverage of the respective communicationcells 20, 21. Each distributed unit 22, 24 includes transceivercircuitry 22 a, 24 a for transmission and reception of wireless signalsand processor circuitry 22 b, 24 b configured to control the respectivedistributed units 22, 24.

In terms of broad top-level functionality, the core network component 31of the new RAT telecommunications system represented in FIG. 2 may bebroadly considered to correspond with the core network 12 represented inFIG. 1 , and the respective controlling nodes 26, 28 and theirassociated distributed units/TRPs 22, 24 may be broadly considered toprovide functionality corresponding to base stations of FIG. 1 . Theterm network infrastructure equipment/access node may be used toencompass these elements and more conventional base station typeelements of wireless telecommunications systems. Depending on theapplication at hand the responsibility for scheduling transmissionswhich are scheduled on the radio interface between the respectivedistributed units and the terminal devices may lie with the controllingnode/centralised unit and/or the distributed units/TRPs.

A terminal device 40 is represented in FIG. 2 within the coverage areaof the first communication cell 20. This terminal device 40 may thusexchange signalling with the first controlling node 26 in the firstcommunication cell via one of the distributed units 22 associated withthe first communication cell 20. In some cases communications for agiven terminal device are routed through only one of the distributedunits, but it will be appreciated in some other implementationscommunications associated with a given terminal device may be routedthrough more than one distributed unit, for example in a soft handoverscenario and other scenarios. The particular distributed unit(s) throughwhich a terminal device is currently connected through to the associatedcontrolling node may be referred to as active distributed units for theterminal device. Thus the active subset of distributed units for aterminal device may comprise one or more than one distributed unit(TRP). The controlling node 26 is responsible for determining which ofthe distributed units 22 spanning the first communication cell 20 isresponsible for radio communications with the terminal device 40 at anygiven time (i.e. which of the distributed units are currently activedistributed units for the terminal device). Typically this will be basedon measurements of radio channel conditions between the terminal device40 and respective ones of the distributed units 22. In this regard, itwill be appreciated the subset of the distributed units in a cell whichare currently active for a terminal device will depend, at least inpart, on the location of the terminal device within the cell (since thiscontributes significantly to the radio channel conditions that existbetween the terminal device and respective ones of the distributedunits).

In at least some implementations the involvement of the distributedunits in routing communications from the terminal device to acontrolling node (controlling unit) is transparent to the terminaldevice 40. That is to say, in some cases the terminal device may not beaware of which distributed unit is responsible for routingcommunications between the terminal device 40 and the controlling node26 of the communication cell 20 in which the terminal device iscurrently operating. In such cases, as far as the terminal device isconcerned, it simply transmits uplink data to the controlling node 26and receives downlink data from the controlling node 26 and the terminaldevice has no awareness of the involvement of the distributed units 22.However, in other embodiments, a terminal device may be aware of whichdistributed unit(s) are involved in its communications. Switching andscheduling of the one or more distributed units may be done at thenetwork controlling node based on measurements by the distributed unitsof the terminal device uplink signal or measurements taken by theterminal device and reported to the controlling node via one or moredistributed units.

In the example of FIG. 2 , two communication cells 20, 21 and oneterminal device 40 are shown for simplicity, but it will of course beappreciated that in practice the system may comprise a larger number ofcommunication cells (each supported by a respective controlling node andplurality of distributed units) serving a larger number of terminaldevices.

It will further be appreciated that FIG. 2 represents merely one exampleof a proposed architecture for a new RAT telecommunications system inwhich approaches in accordance with the principles described herein maybe adopted, and the functionality disclosed herein may also be appliedin respect of wireless telecommunications systems having differentarchitectures.

Thus certain embodiments of the disclosure as discussed herein may beimplemented in wireless telecommunication systems/networks according tovarious different architectures, such as the example architectures shownin FIGS. 1 and 2 . It will thus be appreciated the specific wirelesstelecommunications architecture in any given implementation is not ofprimary significance to the principles described herein. In this regard,certain embodiments of the disclosure may be described generally in thecontext of communications between network infrastructureequipment/access nodes and a terminal device, wherein the specificnature of the network infrastructure equipment/access node and theterminal device will depend on the network infrastructure for theimplementation at hand. For example, in some scenarios the networkinfrastructure equipment/access node may comprise a base station, suchas an LTE-type base station 11 as shown in FIG. 1 which is adapted toprovide functionality in accordance with the principles describedherein, and in other examples the network infrastructure equipment maycomprise a control unit/controlling node 26, 28 and/or a TRP 22, 24 ofthe kind shown in FIG. 2 which is adapted to provide functionality inaccordance with the principles described herein.

As is well understood, various wireless telecommunications networks,such as the LTE-based network represented in FIG. 1 and the NR-basednetwork represented in FIG. 2 , may support different Radio ResourceControl (RRC) modes for terminal devices, typically including: (i) RRCidle mode (RRC_IDLE); and (ii) RRC connected mode (RRC_CONNECTED). Whena terminal device transmits data, RRC connected mode is generally used.The RRC idle mode, on the other hand, is for terminal devices which areregistered to the network (EMM-REGISTERED), but not currently in activecommunication (ECM-IDLE). Thus, generally speaking, in RRC connectedmode a terminal device is connected to a radio network access node (e.g.an LTE base station) in the sense of being able to exchange user planedata with the radio network access node. Conversely, in RRC idle mode aterminal device is not connected to a radio network access node in thesense of not being able to communicate user plane data using the radionetwork access node. In idle mode the terminal device may still receivesome communications from base stations, for example reference signallingfor cell reselection purposes and other broadcast signalling The RRCconnection setup procedure of going from RRC idle mode to RRC connectedmode may be referred to as connecting to a cell/base station.

For a terminal device in RRC idle mode the core network is aware thatthe terminal device is present within the network, but the radio accessnetwork (RAN) part (comprising radio network infrastructure equipmentsuch as the base stations 11 of FIG. 1 and/or the combined TRPs/CUs ofFIG. 2 ) is not. The core network is aware of the location of idle modeterminal devices at a paging tracking area level but not at the level ofindividual transceiver entities. The core network will generally assumea terminal device is located within the tracking area(s) associated witha transceiver entity most recently used for communicating with theterminal device, unless the terminal device has since provided aspecific tracking area update (TAU) to the network. (As is conventional,idle mode terminal devices are typically required to send a TAU whenthey detect they have entered a different tracking area to allow thecore network to keep track of their location.) Because the core networktracks terminal devices at a tracking area level, it is generally notpossible for the network infrastructure to know which specifictransceiver entities (radio network node) to use when seeking toinitiate contact with a terminal device in idle mode. Consequently, andas is well known, when a core network is required to connect to an idlemode terminal device a paging procedure is used.

In a typical currently deployed network, idle mode terminal devices areconfigured to monitor for paging messages periodically. For terminaldevices operating in a discontinuous reception (DRX) mode this occurswhen they wake up for their DRX awake time. Paging signals for aspecific terminal device are transmitted in defined frames (PagingFrames)/sub-frames (Paging Occasions) which for a given terminal devicemay be derived from the International Mobile Subscriber Identifier(IMSI) of the terminal device, as well as paging related DRX parametersestablished in system information transmitted within the network.

NR Slot Format Configuration

A 3GPP Study Item (SI) on New Radio Access Technology (NR) [9] has beencompleted and a Work Item (WI) has been agreed to specifyfunctionalities for NR [10] which, as described above, would be the newRadio Access Technology (RAT) for the next generation wirelesscommunication system, i.e. 5G.

The new RAT is expected to operate in a large range of frequencies, fromhundreds of MHz to 100 GHz and it is expected to cover a broad range ofuse cases.

In NR, a slot consists of multiple OFDM symbols, e.g. 14 symbols where atransmission of a physical channel can occur over one or more slots. Ina time division duplexed (TDD) system, the symbols within a slot canalso be configured to operate in the uplink (UL) or downlink (DL)direction. Currently in 3GPP, the slot structure can be configured using3 different methods, i.e.:

-   -   Semi-static configuration using RRC signalling,    -   Dynamically using a Slot Format Indicator (SFI) carried by a        Group Common PDCCH, or    -   Dynamically using a UE specific DCI.

The Slot Format Indicator (SFI) carries information relating to thestructure of one or multiple slots and is carried by a Group CommonPDCCH, where the SFI is transmitted to a group of UEs configured tomonitor this Group Common PDCCH. One of the components of the slotstructure information carried by the SFI is the DL & UL symbolconfiguration in a slot (or multiple slots). That is an indication ofwhich symbols in a slot or multiple slots are for downlink or uplinktransmissions. An example is shown in FIG. 3 , where the Group CommonPDCCH carrying the SFI is transmitted in the first 2 symbols of the slotand it indicates that the 3^(rd) till the 11^(th) symbols are used fordownlink transmission and the 13^(th) and 14^(th) symbols are for uplinktransmission. The 12^(th) is a gap between the downlink and uplinksymbols for switching between DL and UL. This could be used for a PDSCHtransmission in the DL (3^(rd) till 11^(th) symbols) followed by anacknowledgement in the uplink in the last two symbols.

In addition to DL and UL symbols, the symbol can also be configured as“Unknown” or “Reserved.” An “Unknown” symbol means that the symbol isflexible and can be overwritten by the UE specific DCI. That is a symbolcan be configured as “Unknown” semi-statically or by the SFI and can beoverwritten as a DL or an UL by the UE specific DCI. A “Reserved” symbolis not used and cannot be overwritten.

Currently in 3GPP the “Reserved” symbol is at least semi-staticallyconfigured (3GPP may decide later whether it can also be configured bythe SFI).

It can be appreciated that having multiple methods to configure the sameslot can lead to conflict in configurations. For example in FIG. 4 , theRRC, SFI and DCI configures a DL-UL structure such that symbol 4, 5, 6,7, 8 and 11 are inconsistent and leading to ambiguous UE behaviour.Hence, a method is required to resolve such conflicting configurations.

NR Slot Format Configuration Conflicts

Embodiments of the present technique provide methods and apparatus whichare operable to interpret symbols with conflicting configuration asflexible symbols. That is, such symbols can be overwritten by a dynamicconfiguration such as UE specific DCI to be either DL or UL.

FIG. 5 shows a part schematic, part message flow diagram representationof a communications system 50 in accordance with embodiments of thepresent technique. The communications system 50 comprises aninfrastructure equipment 51 of a wireless communications network and acommunications device 52. Each of the infrastructure equipment 51 andcommunications device 52 comprise a transmitter (or transmittercircuitry) 51.1, 52.1, a receiver (or receiver circuitry) 51.2, 52.2 anda controller (or controller circuitry) 53.1, 53.2. Each of thecontrollers 53.1, 53.2 may be, for example, a microprocessor, a CPU, ora dedicated chipset, etc. It will be appreciated by those skilled in theart that, in arrangements of the present technique, the communicationsdevice 52 may not always include a transmitter 52.1, for example inscenarios where the communications device 52 is a low-power wearabledevice.

As shown in FIG. 5 , the communications device 52 is configured toreceive 54 from the infrastructure equipment 51 of the wirelesscommunications network slot configuration information indicating aconfiguration of one or more slots of a wireless access interfaceprovided by the wireless communications network for communicating datato the communications device 52 on a downlink and receiving data fromthe communications device 52 on an uplink, the time divided slots of thewireless access interface each providing a plurality of symbols on oneof more radio frequency carrier signals which can be configureddifferently for use by the communications device 52 or theinfrastructure equipment 51, the slot configuration informationincluding an indication that one or more of the plurality of symbols areto be used for transmitting signals from the communications device 52 orthat one or more of the plurality of symbols are to be used forreceiving signals at the communications device 52, and in accordancewith the received slot configuration information, to receive 56 signalsby the communications device 52 in each of the one or more slots on theone or more of the symbols allocated from receiving signals, and totransmit 58 signals from the communications device in each of the one ormore slots on the one or more of the symbols allocated to thecommunications device for transmitting signals. During the step ofreceiving the slot configuration information 54 from the infrastructureequipment 51, the communications device 52 is configured to receive 541first slot configuration information from the infrastructure equipment51 indicating the configuration of a first plurality of the time slots,and to receive 542 subsequently at least one other slot configurationinformation from the infrastructure equipment 51 indicating theconfiguration of one or more of the first plurality of time slots, andif the at least one other slot configuration information indicates thatone or more of the symbols of each of the one or more time slots areconfigured differently to the first slot configuration information,determining 544 a dynamic characteristic of the first slot informationand the at least one other slot information, and determining 544 aconfiguration of the differently configured one or more symbols by thecommunications device 52 according to a conflict resolution rule basedon the determined dynamic characteristic of the first slot configurationinformation and the determined dynamic characteristic of the at leastone other slot configuration information.

In one example, the dynamic characteristic may be for example one orboth of a rate of change of the slot configuration information, or apersistence rate of the slot configuration information or a timeduration over which the slot configuration information is valid.

In some embodiments of the present technique, the determining theconfiguration of the differently configured one or more symbols by thecommunications device according to a conflict resolution rule comprisesidentifying the one or more symbols of each of the one or more timeslots which are configured differently between the first slotconfiguration information and the at least one other slot configurationinformation, and if the dynamic characteristic is for example a rate ofchange of the first slot configuration information is less than the rateof change of the at least one other slot configuration information,determining the configuration of the one or more symbols according tothe at least one other slot configuration information in preference tothe first slot configuration information, else determining theconfiguration of the one or more symbols according to the first slotconfiguration information in preference to the at least one other slotconfiguration information.

According to these example embodiments of the present technique, a moredynamic configuration method can overwrite a less dynamic configuration.In embodiments of the present technique, the least dynamic configurationis the RRC configuration and the most dynamic configuration is the UEspecific DCI. The SFI is more dynamic than that of the RRC configurationand less dynamic than that of the UE specific DCI. In these embodiments,only conflicts between the RRC configuration and the SFI can be treatedas flexible symbols. That is, any conflicting configuration between RRCand SFI would turn that symbol into an “Unknown” configuration, whichcan be overwritten by the UE specific DCI. An example is shown in FIG. 6, with symbols 4, 5, 6, 7 & 11 having conflicting configuration betweenRRC and SFI. As per the embodiment, these conflicts are resolved byturning these symbols as flexible or “Unknown” symbols. These symbolscan therefore be overwritten by the most dynamic configuration, such asthe UE specific DCI, that is, the DCI will indicate the finalconfiguration for these symbols. However, symbol 8 in this example doesnot have any conflicts between the RRC and SFI configurations and henceshould be regarded as DL but the DCI indicates that it is an UL, therebycausing ambiguity at the UE. It should be appreciated that although inthis example UE specific DCI is used as the most dynamic configuration,other configurations more dynamic than those in RRC and SFI can also beused to overwrite conflicting symbol configurations. Such embodiments ofthe present technique therefore give flexibility to the gNB to changeits mind on the structure of a symbol once it is RRC configured. Inother words, the at least one other slot configuration informationcomprises second slot configuration information indicating theconfiguration of a second duration comprising one or more time slots ofthe first plurality of time slots, and third slot configurationinformation indicating the configuration of a third duration comprisingone or more time slots of the first plurality of time slots, and whereinthe determining the configuration of the differently configured one ormore symbols by the communications device according to a conflictresolution rule comprises identifying the one or more symbols of each ofthe one or more time slots which are configured differently between thefirst slot configuration information, the second slot configurationinformation and the third slot configuration information, identifying ashortest of the first duration, the second duration and third duration,and if the duration of the configuration of the plurality of time slotsby the first slot configuration information is the shortest thendetermining the configuration of the one or more time slots which areconfigured differently according to the first slot configurationinformation, or if the duration of the configuration of the one or moreof the time slots by the second slot configuration information is theshortest then determining the configuration of the one or more timeslots which are configured differently according to the second slotconfiguration information, or if the duration of the configuration ofthe one or more of the time slots by the third slot configurationinformation is the shortest then determining the configuration of theone or more time slots which are configured differently according to thethird slot configuration information.

Here, and generally in embodiments of the present technique as disclosedand discussed herein, a “duration” of the of the slot configurationinformation means a length of time that the slot configurationinformation is valid, before the network or infrastructure equipmenttransmits new slot configuration information of the same method/formatto supersede the old slot configuration information. For example, theduration of RRC slot configuration information may persist and be validuntil it is over-written by a further RRC configuration and so itsduration may be measured in a number of hours, while the duration of DCIslot configuration information may change per slot and therefore has amuch shorter duration.

In some embodiments of the present technique, non-conflicting symbolsbetween the RRC and SFI cannot be overwritten. That, is using theexemplary configurations shown in FIG. 6 , symbol 8 shall be resolved asa DL symbol since the RRC and SFI indicates that it is a DL symbol, andper this embodiment it cannot be overwritten as shown in FIG. 7 , eventhough the DCI indicates it as an UL symbol.

In some embodiments of the present technique, conflicting symbols shallremain as flexible until they are overwritten by a DCI. That is, in theabsence of a UE specific DCI configuration, these conflicting symbolsshall remain as “Unknown” i. e. without direction and therefore they arenot used by the UE.

In some embodiments of the present technique, if a “Reserved” symbolfaces conflict then the symbol would remain as “Reserved”. An example isshown in FIG. 8 , where RRC configures symbols 5 and 6 as “Reserved”whilst SFI configures symbol 8 as “Reserved.” Hence, symbols 5, 6 and 8are always “Reserved” and cannot be overwritten by DCI. Otherconflicting symbols such as symbols 4, 7 and 11 are resolved as flexibleor “Unknown” symbols, which can be overwritten by the DCI. In otherwords, the determining the configuration of the differently configuredone or more symbols by the communications device according to a conflictresolution rule comprises identifying the one or more symbols of each ofthe one or more time slots which are configured differently between thefirst slot configuration information and the at least one other slotconfiguration information, and if at least one of the first slotconfiguration information or the at least one other slot configurationinformation configures any of the one or more differently configuredsymbols as reserved, then determining that the configuration of thesymbol is reserved.

In some embodiments of the present technique, for a later release UEwhich is capable for transmitting and/or receiving a new slot format, ifthe “Reserved” symbol faces conflict, then the symbol would beoverwritten by the new slot format when UE-specific DCI indicates thenew slot format. Furthermore, the symbol would remain as a “Reserved”symbol when UE-specific DCI does not indicate the new slot format, e.g.downlink, uplink, Unknown or Reserved. An example is shown in FIG. 9 ,where the symbols 5, 6 and 8 are assumed as “Reserved” symbols after theconflict resolution, similarly to the embodiments of the presenttechnique exemplified by FIG. 8 . In these embodiments, the UE-specificDCI indicates “Sidelink” symbols as the new slot format in the symbols 5and 6, and Uplink symbol in the symbol 8. A sidelink capable UE assumesthe symbols 5 and 6 as “Sidelink” symbols and the symbol 8 as “Reserved”symbol. Here, the sidelink capable UE is new Release UE, and thesidelink can be a transmission direction for transmitting and/orreceiving Device-to-Device (D2D) data to or from another capable UE. Inother words, the determining the configuration of the differentlyconfigured one or more symbols by the communications device according toa conflict resolution rule comprises identifying the one or more symbolsof each of the one or more time slots which are determined through theconflict resolution rule to be reserved, receiving a further slotconfiguration information from the infrastructure equipment indicatingthe configuration of one or more of the time slots, and, if the furtherconfiguration information indicates that one or more of the symbols ofeach of the one or more time slots are configured with a new slotformat, determining based on the further slot configuration, for eachsymbol of each of the one or more time slots which are determinedthrough the conflict resolution rule to be reserved, that theconfiguration of each symbol which is determined through the conflictresolution rule to be reserved is the new slot format. The new slotformat indicates that the communications device should transmit signalsor receive signals on a device-to-device, D2D, sidelink to anothercommunications device, wherein the new slot format is only indicated inslot configuration information transmitted from the infrastructureequipment to D2D-enabled communications devices.

As discussed herein, the first slot configuration information and the atleast one other slot configuration information are each provided by oneof radio resource control information, a slot format indicatorcommunicated in a group communications channel and a downlink controlinformation, wherein the duration of a slot configuration informationprovided by radio resource control information is greater than aduration of a slot configuration information provided by a slot formatindicator, and the duration of a slot configuration information isgreater than a duration of a slot configuration information provided bya downlink control information.

FIG. 10 shows a first flow diagram illustrating a method ofcommunications in a communications system in accordance with embodimentsof the present technique. The flow diagram of FIG. 10 corresponds to aportion of the part schematic, part message flow diagram representationof a communications system in accordance with embodiments of the presenttechnique shown in FIG. 5 . The method is a method of transmitting orreceiving signals by a communications device communicating under controlof a wireless communications network. The method starts in step S100.The method comprises in step S102, receiving from an infrastructureequipment of the wireless communications network slot configurationinformation indicating a configuration of one or more slots of awireless access interface provided by the wireless communicationsnetwork for communicating data to the communications device on adownlink and receiving data from the communications device on an uplink,the time divided slots of the wireless access interface each providing aplurality of symbols on one of more radio frequency carrier signalswhich can be configured differently for use by the communications deviceor the infrastructure equipment, the slot configuration informationincluding an indication that one or more of the plurality of symbols areto be used for transmitting signals from the communications device orthat one or more of the plurality of symbols are to be used forreceiving signals at the communications device. In accordance with thereceived slot configuration information, in step S104, the processcomprises receiving signals by the communications device in each of theone or more slots on the one or more of the symbols allocated forreceiving signals and in step S106, the method comprises transmittingsignals from the communications device in each of the one or more slotson the one or more of the symbols allocated to the communications devicefor transmitting signals. The process ends in step S108.

FIG. 11 shows a second flow diagram illustrating a method ofcommunications in a communications system in accordance with embodimentsof the present technique. The flow diagram of FIG. 11 corresponds to aportion of the part schematic, part message flow diagram representationof a communications system in accordance with embodiments of the presenttechnique shown in FIG. 5 , and furthermore takes place during step S102of the method illustrated by the flow diagram of FIG. 10 . The methodstarts in step S110. The method comprises in step S111, receiving firstslot configuration information from the infrastructure equipmentindicating the configuration of a first plurality of the time slotshaving a first duration. In step S112, the process receivingsubsequently at least one other slot configuration information from theinfrastructure equipment indicating the configuration of one or more ofthe first plurality of time slots. In step S114, the method comprisesdetermining if the at least one other slot configuration informationindicates that one or more of the symbols of each of the one or moretime slots are configured differently to the first slot configurationinformation. Should the outcome of the determination of step S114 be“Yes” the method advances to step S116 a, which comprises determining aconfiguration of the differently configured one or more symbols by thecommunications device according to a conflict resolution rule. However,if the outcome of the determination of step S114 be “No” the methodadvances to step S116 b, which comprises determining a configuration ofsymbols by the communications device according to the first and the atleast one other slot configuration information. The process ends ineither step S118 a or S118 b.

Though the slot configuration information methods discussed in thisdocument and in relation to embodiments of the present techniquecomprise RRC, SFI and DCI, those skilled in the art would appreciatethat other configuration methods can also be used in embodiments of thepresent technique, or a subset of those discussed (RRC, SFI and DCI) maybe used alone or in addition to other configuration methods notdiscussed herein.

As will be appreciated, an infrastructure equipment or eNB can beconfigured to apply the same determination to configure any of thesymbols which are differently configured by different slot configurationinformation. That is to say, although the eNB is transmitting the firstand the subsequent slot configuration information which may conflictwith respect to the configuration of one or more symbols in one of moreof the same time slots as a result, for example, of a difference inshort and long term requirement, the eNB can apply the same conflictresolution rule and the same calculation for the dynamic characteristicto that applied by the UE and so can make the same determination of theconfiguration of the differently configured or conflicting symbols aswould be applied by the communications device.

Embodiments of the present technique can therefore provide aninfrastructure equipment for forming part of a wireless communicationsnetwork. The infrastructure equipment may comprise transmitter circuitryconfigured to transmit signals to one or more wireless communicationsdevices via a wireless access interface provided by the wirelesscommunications network, receiver circuitry configured to receive signalsfrom one or more of the communications devices transmitted via thewireless access interface, and controller circuitry for controlling thetransmitter circuitry and the receiver circuitry to transmit the signalsto the one or more communications devices and to receive signals fromthe one or more communications devices to communicate the data. Thecontroller circuitry is configured with the transmitter circuitry andthe receiver circuitry

-   -   to transmit to at least one of the communications devices slot        configuration information indicating a configuration of one or        more time divided slots of a wireless access interface provided        by the wireless communications network for transmitting the data        to the communications device in a downlink and receiving the        data from the communications device in an uplink, the time        divided slots of the wireless access interface each providing a        plurality of symbols on one of more radio frequency carrier        signals which can be configured differently for use by the        communications device or the infrastructure equipment, the slot        configuration information including an indication that one or        more of the plurality of symbols are to be used for transmitting        signals from the communications device or that one or more of        the plurality of symbols are to be used for receiving signals at        the communications device, the transmitted slot configuration        information comprising first slot configuration information        indicating the configuration of a first plurality of the time        slots, and at least one other slot configuration information        indicating the configuration of one or more of the first        plurality of time slots, wherein the controller circuitry is        configured with the receiver circuity and the transmitter        circuitry    -   to determine, if the at least one other slot configuration        information indicates that one or more of the symbols of each of        the one or more time slots are configured differently to the        first slot configuration information, a dynamic characteristic        of the first slot information and the at least one other slot        information known to be applied by the communications device,    -   to determine a configuration of the differently configured one        or more symbols as a determination which would be made by the        communications device according to a conflict resolution rule        based on the determined dynamic characteristic of the first slot        configuration information and the determined dynamic        characteristic of the at least one other slot configuration        information,    -   to transmit the signals in each of the one or more time slots on        the one or more of the symbols allocated from transmitting        signals to the communications device, and    -   to receive the signals from the communications device in each of        the one or more time slots on the one or more of the symbols        allocated for receiving signals from the communications device.

The following numbered paragraphs provide further example aspects andfeatures of the present technique:

Paragraph 1. A method of transmitting or receiving signals by acommunications device communicating under control of a wirelesscommunications network, the method comprising

-   -   receiving from an infrastructure equipment of the wireless        communications network slot configuration information indicating        a configuration of one or more time divided slots of a wireless        access interface provided by the wireless communications network        for communicating data to the communications device in a        downlink and receiving data from the communications device in an        uplink, the time divided slots of the wireless access interface        each providing a plurality of symbols on one of more radio        frequency carrier signals which can be configured differently        for use by the communications device or the infrastructure        equipment, the slot configuration information including an        indication that one or more of the plurality of symbols are to        be used for transmitting signals from the communications device        or that one or more of the plurality of symbols are to be used        for receiving signals at the communications device, and in        accordance with the received slot configuration information    -   receiving signals by the communications device in each of the        one or more time slots on the one or more of the symbols        allocated from receiving signals, and    -   transmitting signals from the communications device in each of        the one or more time slots on the one or more of the symbols        allocated to the communications device for transmitting signals,        wherein the receiving the slot configuration information from        the infrastructure equipment comprises    -   receiving first slot configuration information from the        infrastructure equipment indicating the configuration of a first        plurality of the time slots, and    -   receiving, subsequently, at least one other slot configuration        information from the infrastructure equipment indicating the        configuration of one or more of the first plurality of time        slots, and if the at least one other slot configuration        information indicates that one or more of the symbols of each of        the one or more time slots are configured differently to the        first slot configuration information,    -   determining a dynamic characteristic of the first slot        information and the at least one other slot information, and    -   determining a configuration of the differently configured one or        more symbols by the communications device according to a        conflict resolution rule based on the determined dynamic        characteristic of the first slot configuration information and        the determined dynamic characteristic of the at least one other        slot configuration information.

Paragraph 2. A method according to paragraph 1, wherein the dynamiccharacteristic is a representation indicating a rate of change of thefirst slot configuration information and the at least one other slotconfiguration information, and the determining the configuration of thedifferently configured one or more symbols by the communications deviceaccording to the conflict resolution rule comprises

-   -   identifying the one or more symbols of each of the one or more        time slots which are configured differently between the first        slot configuration information and the at least one other slot        configuration information, and if the determined rate of change        of the configuration of the plurality of time slots by the first        slot configuration information is greater than the determined        rate of change of the at least one other slot configuration        information,    -   determining the configuration of the one or more symbols        according to the at least one other slot configuration        information in preference to the first slot configuration        information, else    -   determining the configuration of the one or more symbols        according to the first slot configuration information in        preference to the at least one other slot configuration        information.

Paragraph 3. A method according to paragraph 1, wherein the at least oneother slot configuration information comprises second slot configurationinformation indicating the configuration of one or more time slots ofthe first plurality of time slots, and third slot configurationinformation indicating the configuration of the one or more time slotsof the first plurality of time slots,

-   -   the determining the dynamic characteristic of the first slot        information and the at least one other slot information,        comprises determining a representation of a rate of change of        the first slot configuration information, the second slot        configuration information and the third slot configuration        information, and    -   the determining the configuration of the differently configured        one or more symbols by the communications device according to        the conflict resolution rule comprises    -   identifying the one or more symbols of each of the one or more        time slots which are configured differently between the first        slot configuration information, the second slot configuration        information and the third slot configuration information,    -   identifying which of the first, second or third slot information        has the greatest rate of change, and    -   determining the configuration of the one or more symbols        according to the first, second or third slot configuration        information which has the greatest rate of change in preference        to the others of the first, second or third slot configuration        information.

Paragraph 4. A method according to paragraph 1, 2 or 3, wherein thedetermining the configuration of the differently configured one or moresymbols by the communications device according to a conflict resolutionrule comprises

-   -   identifying whether any of the differently configured one or        more symbols are configured as reserved in the first slot        configuration information and the at least one other slot        configuration information, and if at least one of the first slot        configuration information or the at least one other slot        configuration information configures any of the one or more        differently configured symbols as reserved, then determining        that the configuration of the symbol is reserved.

Paragraph 5. A method according to paragraph 4, wherein the determiningthe configuration of the differently configured one or more symbols bythe communications device according to a conflict resolution rulecomprises

-   -   receiving a further slot configuration information from the        infrastructure equipment indicating the configuration of one or        more of the time slots, and, if the further configuration        information indicates that one or more of the symbols of each of        the one or more time slots are configured with a new slot        format,    -   determining based on the further slot configuration that one or        more of the differently configured symbols should be configured        according to the new slot format.

Paragraph 6. A method according to paragraph 4, wherein the determiningthe configuration of the differently configured one or more symbols bythe communications device according to a conflict resolution rulecomprises

-   -   identifying the one or more symbols of each of the one or more        time slots which are determined through the conflict resolution        rule to be reserved,    -   receiving a further slot configuration information from the        infrastructure equipment indicating the configuration of one or        more of the time slots, and, if the further configuration        information indicates that one or more of the symbols of each of        the one or more time slots are configured with a new slot        format,    -   determining based on the further slot configuration, for each        symbol of each of the one or more time slots which are        determined through the conflict resolution rule to be reserved,        that the configuration of each symbol which is determined        through the conflict resolution rule to be reserved is the new        slot format.

Paragraph 7. A method according to paragraph 5 or 6, wherein the newslot format indicates that the communications device should transmitsignals or receive signals on a device-to-device, D2D, sidelink toanother communications device, wherein the new slot format is onlyindicated in slot configuration information transmitted from theinfrastructure equipment to D2D-enabled communications devices.

Paragraph 8. A method according to any of paragraphs 1 to 7, wherein thefirst slot configuration information and the at least one other slotconfiguration information are each provided by one of radio resourcecontrol information, a slot format indicator communicated in a groupcommunications channel and a downlink control information.

Paragraph 9. A method according to any of paragraphs 2 to 7, wherein thefirst slot configuration information and the at least one other slotconfiguration information are each provided by one of radio resourcecontrol information, a slot format indicator communicated in a groupcommunications channel and a downlink control information and the rateof change of the slot configuration information provided by radioresource control information is slower than the rate of change of theslot configuration information provided by a slot format indicator, andthe rate of change of the slot configuration information is greater thanthe rate of change of the slot configuration information provided by thedownlink control information.

Paragraph 10. A method according to paragraph 9, wherein the determiningthe configuration of the differently configured one or more symbols bythe communications device according to a conflict resolution rulecomprises

-   -   determining that the configuration of symbols which are        configured the same by each of the radio resource control        information and the slot format indicator and which are        configured differently by the downlink control information        should be the same as the configuration of the symbols by the        radio resource control information and the slot format        indicator.

Paragraph 11. A method according to paragraph 10, wherein thedetermining the configuration of the differently configured one or moresymbols by the communications device according to a conflict resolutionrule comprises

-   -   determining that the configuration of symbols which are        configured differently by the radio resource control information        and the slot format indicator should be a flexible        configuration.

Paragraph 12. A method according to paragraph 11, wherein thedetermining the configuration of the differently configured one or moresymbols by the communications device according to a conflict resolutionrule comprises

-   -   determining that the configuration of symbols which have a        flexible configuration should be the same as the configuration        of the symbols by the downlink control information.

Paragraph 13. A method according to any of paragraphs 10 to 12, whereinthe determining the configuration of the differently configured one ormore symbols by the communications device according to a conflictresolution rule comprises

-   -   identifying the one or more symbols of each of the one or more        time slots which are configured differently between the radio        resource control information and the slot format indicator, and        if at least one of the radio resource control information and        the slot format indicator configures any of the one or more        differently configured symbols as reserved, then determining        that the configuration of the symbol is reserved.

Paragraph 14. A method according to paragraph 13, wherein thedetermining the configuration of the differently configured one or moresymbols by the communications device according to a conflict resolutionrule comprises

-   -   identifying the one or more symbols of each of the one or more        time slots which are determined through the conflict resolution        rule to be reserved,    -   receiving a downlink control information from the infrastructure        equipment indicating the configuration of one or more of the        time slots, and, if the downlink control information indicates        that one or more of the symbols of each of the one or more time        slots are configured with a new slot format,    -   determining based on the downlink control information, for each        symbol of each of the one or more time slots which are        determined through the conflict resolution rule to be reserved,        that the configuration of each symbol which is determined        through the conflict resolution rule to be reserved is the new        slot format.

Paragraph 15. A method according to paragraph 14, wherein the new slotformat indicates that the communications device should transmit signalsor receive signals on a device-to-device, D2D, sidelink to anothercommunications device, wherein the new slot format is only indicated indownlink control information transmitted from the infrastructureequipment to D2D-enabled communications devices.

Paragraph 16. A communications device for transmitting or receivingsignals for communicating data under control of a wirelesscommunications network, the communications device comprising

-   -   transmitter circuitry configured to transmit signals to an        infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network        via a wireless access interface provided by the wireless        communications network,    -   receiver circuitry configured to receive signals from the        infrastructure equipment transmitted via the wireless access        interface, and    -   controller circuitry for controlling the transmitter circuitry        and the receiver circuitry to transmit the signals to the        infrastructure equipment and to receive signals from the        infrastructure equipment to communicate the data, the controller        circuitry being configured with the transmitter circuitry and        the receiver circuitry    -   to receive from the infrastructure equipment slot configuration        information indicating a configuration of one or more time        divided slots of a wireless access interface provided by the        wireless communications network for transmitting the data to the        communications device in a downlink and receiving the data from        the communications device in an uplink, the time divided slots        of the wireless access interface each providing a plurality of        symbols on one of more radio frequency carrier signals which can        be configured differently for use by the communications device        or the infrastructure equipment, the slot configuration        information including an indication that one or more of the        plurality of symbols are to be used for transmitting signals        from the communications device or that one or more of the        plurality of symbols are to be used for receiving signals at the        communications device, the received slot configuration        information comprising first slot configuration information        indicating the configuration of a first plurality of the time        slots, and at least one other slot configuration information        indicating the configuration of one or more of the first        plurality of time slots, wherein the controller circuitry is        configured with the receiver circuity and the transmitter        circuitry    -   to determine, if the at least one other slot configuration        information indicates that one or more of the symbols of each of        the one or more time slots are configured differently to the        first slot configuration information, a dynamic characteristic        of the first slot information and the at least one other slot        information, and    -   to determine a configuration of the differently configured one        or more symbols according to a conflict resolution rule based on        the determined dynamic characteristic of the first slot        configuration information and the determined dynamic        characteristic of the at least one other slot configuration        information,    -   to receive the signals in each of the one or more time slots on        the one or more of the symbols allocated from receiving signals,        and    -   to transmit the signals from the communications device in each        of the one or more time slots on the one or more of the symbols        allocated to the communications device for transmitting signals.

Paragraph 17. A method of transmitting signals to a wirelesscommunications device from an infrastructure equipment of a wirelesscommunications network or receiving signals from the communicationsdevice by the infrastructure equipment, the method comprising

-   -   transmitting from the infrastructure equipment to the        communications device slot configuration information indicating        a configuration of one or more time divided slots of a wireless        access interface provided by the wireless communications network        for communicating data to the communications device in a        downlink and receiving data from the communications device in an        uplink, the time divided slots of the wireless access interface        each providing a plurality of symbols on one of more radio        frequency carrier signals which can be configured differently        for use by the communications device or the infrastructure        equipment, the slot configuration information including an        indication that one or more of the plurality of symbols are to        be used for transmitting signals from the infrastructure        equipment or that one or more of the plurality of symbols are to        be used for receiving signals from the communications device,        and in accordance with the received slot configuration        information    -   transmitting signals to the communications device in each of the        one or more time slots on the one or more of the symbols        allocated from receiving signals, and    -   receiving signals from the communications device in each of the        one or more time slots on the one or more of the symbols        allocated to the communications device for transmitting signals,        wherein the transmitting the slot configuration information from        the infrastructure equipment comprises    -   transmitting first slot configuration information from the        infrastructure equipment indicating the configuration of a first        plurality of the time slots, and    -   transmitting, subsequently, at least one other slot        configuration information from the infrastructure equipment        indicating the configuration of one or more of the first        plurality of time slots, and if the at least one other slot        configuration information indicates that one or more of the        symbols of each of the one or more time slots are configured        differently to the first slot configuration information,    -   determining a dynamic characteristic of the first slot        information and the at least one other slot information in        accordance with a determination known to be applied by the        communications device, and    -   determining a configuration of the differently configured one or        more symbols as a determination would be made by the        communications device according to a conflict resolution rule        based on the determined dynamic characteristic of the first slot        configuration information and the determined dynamic        characteristic of the at least one other slot configuration        information.

Paragraph 18. An infrastructure equipment for forming part of a wirelesscommunications network, the infrastructure equipment comprising

-   -   transmitter circuitry configured to transmit signals to one or        more wireless communications devices via a wireless access        interface provided by the wireless communications network,    -   receiver circuitry configured to receive signals from one or        more of the communications devices transmitted via the wireless        access interface, and    -   controller circuitry for controlling the transmitter circuitry        and the receiver circuitry to transmit the signals to the one or        more communications devices and to receive signals from the one        or more communications devices to communicate the data, the        controller circuitry being configured with the transmitter        circuitry and the receiver circuitry    -   to transmit to at least one of the communications devices slot        configuration information indicating a configuration of one or        more time divided slots of a wireless access interface provided        by the wireless communications network for transmitting the data        to the communications device in a downlink and receiving the        data from the communications device in an uplink, the time        divided slots of the wireless access interface each providing a        plurality of symbols on one of more radio frequency carrier        signals which can be configured differently for use by the        communications device or the infrastructure equipment, the slot        configuration information including an indication that one or        more of the plurality of symbols are to be used for transmitting        signals from the communications device or that one or more of        the plurality of symbols are to be used for receiving signals at        the communications device, the transmitted slot configuration        information comprising first slot configuration information        indicating the configuration of a first plurality of the time        slots, and at least one other slot configuration information        indicating the configuration of one or more of the first        plurality of time slots, wherein the controller circuitry is        configured with the receiver circuity and the transmitter        circuitry    -   to determine, if the at least one other slot configuration        information indicates that one or more of the symbols of each of        the one or more time slots are configured differently to the        first slot configuration information, a dynamic characteristic        of the first slot information and the at least one other slot        information known to be applied by the communications device,    -   to determine a configuration of the differently configured one        or more symbols as a determination which would be made by the        communications device according to a conflict resolution rule        based on the determined dynamic characteristic of the first slot        configuration information and the determined dynamic        characteristic of the at least one other slot configuration        information,    -   to transmit the signals in each of the one or more time slots on        the one or more of the symbols allocated from transmitting        signals to the communications device, and    -   to receive the signals from the communications device in each of        the one or more time slots on the one or more of the symbols        allocated for receiving signals from the communications device.

In so far as embodiments of the disclosure have been described as beingimplemented, at least in part, by software-controlled data processingapparatus, it will be appreciated that a non-transitory machine-readablemedium carrying such software, such as an optical disk, a magnetic disk,semiconductor memory or the like, is also considered to represent anembodiment of the present disclosure.

It will be appreciated that the above description for clarity hasdescribed embodiments with reference to different functional units,circuitry and/or processors. However, it will be apparent that anysuitable distribution of functionality between different functionalunits, circuitry and/or processors may be used without detracting fromthe embodiments.

Described embodiments may be implemented in any suitable form includinghardware, software, firmware or any combination of these. Describedembodiments may optionally be implemented at least partly as computersoftware running on one or more data processors and/or digital signalprocessors. The elements and components of any embodiment may bephysically, functionally and logically implemented in any suitable way.Indeed the functionality may be implemented in a single unit, in aplurality of units or as part of other functional units. As such, thedisclosed embodiments may be implemented in a single unit or may bephysically and functionally distributed between different units,circuitry and/or processors.

Although the present disclosure has been described in connection withsome embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific formset forth herein. Additionally, although a feature may appear to bedescribed in connection with particular embodiments, one skilled in theart would recognise that various features of the described embodimentsmay be combined in any manner suitable to implement the technique.

REFERENCES

[1] RP-161464, “Revised WID for Further Enhanced MTC for LTE,” Ericsson,3GPP TSG RAN Meeting #73, New Orleans, USA, Sep. 19-22, 2016.

[2] RP-161901, “Revised work item proposal: Enhancements of NB-IoT”,Huawei, HiSilicon, 3GPP TSG RAN Meeting #73, New Orleans, USA, Sep.19-22, 2016.

[3] RP-170732, “New WID on Even further enhanced MTC for LTE,” Ericsson,Qualcomm, 3GPP TSG RAN Meeting #75, Dubrovnik, Croatia, Mar. 6-9, 2017.

[4] RP-170852, “New WID on Further NB-IoT enhancements,” Huawei,HiSilicon, Neul, 3GPP TSG RAN Meeting #75, Dubrovnik, Croatia, Mar. 6-9,2017.

[5] R1-1714064, “On the UE behaviour related to group-common PDCCH inNR” Nokia, Nokia Shanghai Bell, RAN1#90.

[6] Holma H. and Toskala A, “LTE for UMTS OFDMA and SC-FDMA based radioaccess”, John Wiley and Sons, 2009.

[7] 3GPP TS 36.304 version 14.2.0 Release 14.

[8] 3GPP TS 36.321 version 13.5.0 Release 13.

[9] RP-160671, “New SID Proposal: Study on New Radio Access Technology,”NTT DOCOMO, RAN#71.

[10] RP-170847, “New WID on New Radio Access Technology,” NTT DOCOMO,INC., RAN#75.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of transmitting or receiving signals bya communications device communicating under control of a wirelesscommunications network, the method comprising receiving from aninfrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network slotconfiguration information indicating a configuration of one or more timedivided slots of a wireless access interface provided by the wirelesscommunications network for communicating data to the communicationsdevice in a downlink and receiving data from the communications devicein an uplink, the time divided slots of the wireless access interfaceeach providing a plurality of symbols on one of more radio frequencycarrier signals which can be configured differently for use by thecommunications device or the infrastructure equipment, the slotconfiguration information including an indication that one or more ofthe plurality of symbols are to be used for transmitting signals fromthe communications device or that one or more of the plurality ofsymbols are to be used for receiving signals at the communicationsdevice, and in accordance with the received slot configurationinformation receiving signals by the communications device in each ofthe one or more time slots on the one or more of the symbols allocatedfrom receiving signals, and transmitting signals from the communicationsdevice in each of the one or more time slots on the one or more of thesymbols allocated to the communications device for transmitting signals,wherein the receiving the slot configuration information from theinfrastructure equipment comprises receiving first slot configurationinformation from the infrastructure equipment indicating theconfiguration of a first plurality of the time slots, and receiving,subsequently, at least one other slot configuration information from theinfrastructure equipment indicating the configuration of one or more ofthe first plurality of time slots, and if the at least one other slotconfiguration information indicates that one or more of the symbols ofeach of the one or more time slots are configured differently to thefirst slot configuration information, determining a dynamiccharacteristic of the first slot information and the at least one otherslot information, and determining a configuration of the differentlyconfigured one or more symbols by the communications device according toa conflict resolution rule based on the determined dynamiccharacteristic of the first slot configuration information and thedetermined dynamic characteristic of the at least one other slotconfiguration information.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe dynamic characteristic is a representation indicating a rate ofchange of the first slot configuration information and the at least oneother slot configuration information, and the determining theconfiguration of the differently configured one or more symbols by thecommunications device according to the conflict resolution rulecomprises identifying the one or more symbols of each of the one or moretime slots which are configured differently between the first slotconfiguration information and the at least one other slot configurationinformation, and if the determined rate of change of the configurationof the plurality of time slots by the first slot configurationinformation is greater than the determined rate of change of the atleast one other slot configuration information, determining theconfiguration of the one or more symbols according to the at least oneother slot configuration information in preference to the first slotconfiguration information, else determining the configuration of the oneor more symbols according to the first slot configuration information inpreference to the at least one other slot configuration information. 3.A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one other slotconfiguration information comprises second slot configurationinformation indicating the configuration of one or more time slots ofthe first plurality of time slots, and third slot configurationinformation indicating the configuration of the one or more time slotsof the first plurality of time slots, the determining the dynamiccharacteristic of the first slot information and the at least one otherslot information, comprises determining a representation of a rate ofchange of the first slot configuration information, the second slotconfiguration information and the third slot configuration information,and the determining the configuration of the differently configured oneor more symbols by the communications device according to the conflictresolution rule comprises identifying the one or more symbols of each ofthe one or more time slots which are configured differently between thefirst slot configuration information, the second slot configurationinformation and the third slot configuration information, identifyingwhich of the first, second or third slot information has the greatestrate of change, and determining the configuration of the one or moresymbols according to the first, second or third slot configurationinformation which has the greatest rate of change in preference to theothers of the first, second or third slot configuration information. 4.A method as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the determining theconfiguration of the differently configured one or more symbols by thecommunications device according to a conflict resolution rule comprisesidentifying whether any of the differently configured one or moresymbols are configured as reserved in the first slot configurationinformation and the at least one other slot configuration information,and if at least one of the first slot configuration information or theat least one other slot configuration information configures any of theone or more differently configured symbols as reserved, then determiningthat the configuration of the symbol is reserved.
 5. A method as claimedin claim 4, wherein the determining the configuration of the differentlyconfigured one or more symbols by the communications device according toa conflict resolution rule comprises receiving a further slotconfiguration information from the infrastructure equipment indicatingthe configuration of one or more of the time slots, and, if the furtherconfiguration information indicates that one or more of the symbols ofeach of the one or more time slots are configured with a new slotformat, determining based on the further slot configuration that one ormore of the differently configured symbols should be configuredaccording to the new slot format.
 6. A method as claimed in claim 4,wherein the determining the configuration of the differently configuredone or more symbols by the communications device according to a conflictresolution rule comprises identifying the one or more symbols of each ofthe one or more time slots which are determined through the conflictresolution rule to be reserved, receiving a further slot configurationinformation from the infrastructure equipment indicating theconfiguration of one or more of the time slots, and, if the furtherconfiguration information indicates that one or more of the symbols ofeach of the one or more time slots are configured with a new slotformat, determining based on the further slot configuration, for eachsymbol of each of the one or more time slots which are determinedthrough the conflict resolution rule to be reserved, that theconfiguration of each symbol which is determined through the conflictresolution rule to be reserved is the new slot format.
 7. A method asclaimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the new slot format indicates that thecommunications device should transmit signals or receive signals on adevice-to-device, D2D, sidelink to another communications device,wherein the new slot format is only indicated in slot configurationinformation transmitted from the infrastructure equipment to D2D-enabledcommunications devices.
 8. A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7,wherein the first slot configuration information and the at least oneother slot configuration information are each provided by one of radioresource control information, a slot format indicator communicated in agroup communications channel and a downlink control information.
 9. Amethod as claimed in any of claims 2 to 7, wherein the first slotconfiguration information and the at least one other slot configurationinformation are each provided by one of radio resource controlinformation, a slot format indicator communicated in a groupcommunications channel and a downlink control information and the rateof change of the slot configuration information provided by radioresource control information is slower than the rate of change of theslot configuration information provided by a slot format indicator, andthe rate of change of the slot configuration information is greater thanthe rate of change of the slot configuration information provided by thedownlink control information.
 10. A method as claimed in claim 9,wherein the determining the configuration of the differently configuredone or more symbols by the communications device according to a conflictresolution rule comprises determining that the configuration of symbolswhich are configured the same by each of the radio resource controlinformation and the slot format indicator and which are configureddifferently by the downlink control information should be the same asthe configuration of the symbols by the radio resource controlinformation and the slot format indicator.
 11. A method as claimed inclaim 10, wherein the determining the configuration of the differentlyconfigured one or more symbols by the communications device according toa conflict resolution rule comprises determining that the configurationof symbols which are configured differently by the radio resourcecontrol information and the slot format indicator should be a flexibleconfiguration.
 12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein thedetermining the configuration of the differently configured one or moresymbols by the communications device according to a conflict resolutionrule comprises determining that the configuration of symbols which havea flexible configuration should be the same as the configuration of thesymbols by the downlink control information.
 13. A method as claimed inclaim 10, wherein the determining the configuration of the differentlyconfigured one or more symbols by the communications device according toa conflict resolution rule comprises identifying the one or more symbolsof each of the one or more time slots which are configured differentlybetween the radio resource control information and the slot formatindicator, and if at least one of the radio resource control informationand the slot format indicator configures any of the one or moredifferently configured symbols as reserved, then determining that theconfiguration of the symbol is reserved.
 14. A method as claimed inclaim 13, wherein the determining the configuration of the differentlyconfigured one or more symbols by the communications device according toa conflict resolution rule comprises identifying the one or more symbolsof each of the one or more time slots which are determined through theconflict resolution rule to be reserved, receiving a downlink controlinformation from the infrastructure equipment indicating theconfiguration of one or more of the time slots, and, if the downlinkcontrol information indicates that one or more of the symbols of each ofthe one or more time slots are configured with a new slot format,determining based on the downlink control information, for each symbolof each of the one or more time slots which are determined through theconflict resolution rule to be reserved, that the configuration of eachsymbol which is determined through the conflict resolution rule to bereserved is the new slot format.
 15. A method as claimed in claim 14,wherein the new slot format indicates that the communications deviceshould transmit signals or receive signals on a device-to-device, D2D,sidelink to another communications device, wherein the new slot formatis only indicated in downlink control information transmitted from theinfrastructure equipment to D2D-enabled communications devices.
 16. Acommunications device for transmitting or receiving signals forcommunicating data under control of a wireless communications network,the communications device comprising transmitter circuitry configured totransmit signals to an infrastructure equipment of the wirelesscommunications network via a wireless access interface provided by thewireless communications network, receiver circuitry configured toreceive signals from the infrastructure equipment transmitted via thewireless access interface, and controller circuitry for controlling thetransmitter circuitry and the receiver circuitry to transmit the signalsto the infrastructure equipment and to receive signals from theinfrastructure equipment to communicate the data, the controllercircuitry being configured with the transmitter circuitry and thereceiver circuitry to receive from the infrastructure equipment slotconfiguration information indicating a configuration of one or more timedivided slots of a wireless access interface provided by the wirelesscommunications network for transmitting the data to the communicationsdevice in a downlink and receiving the data from the communicationsdevice in an uplink, the time divided slots of the wireless accessinterface each providing a plurality of symbols on one of more radiofrequency carrier signals which can be configured differently for use bythe communications device or the infrastructure equipment, the slotconfiguration information including an indication that one or more ofthe plurality of symbols are to be used for transmitting signals fromthe communications device or that one or more of the plurality ofsymbols are to be used for receiving signals at the communicationsdevice, the received slot configuration information comprising firstslot configuration information indicating the configuration of a firstplurality of the time slots, and at least one other slot configurationinformation indicating the configuration of one or more of the firstplurality of time slots, wherein the controller circuitry is configuredwith the receiver circuity and the transmitter circuitry to determine,if the at least one other slot configuration information indicates thatone or more of the symbols of each of the one or more time slots areconfigured differently to the first slot configuration information, adynamic characteristic of the first slot information and the at leastone other slot information, and to determine a configuration of thedifferently configured one or more symbols according to a conflictresolution rule based on the determined dynamic characteristic of thefirst slot configuration information and the determined dynamiccharacteristic of the at least one other slot configuration information,to receive the signals in each of the one or more time slots on the oneor more of the symbols allocated from receiving signals, and to transmitthe signals from the communications device in each of the one or moretime slots on the one or more of the symbols allocated to thecommunications device for transmitting signals.
 17. A method oftransmitting signals to a wireless communications device from aninfrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network orreceiving signals from the communications device by the infrastructureequipment, the method comprising transmitting from the infrastructureequipment to the communications device slot configuration informationindicating a configuration of one or more time divided slots of awireless access interface provided by the wireless communicationsnetwork for communicating data to the communications device in adownlink and receiving data from the communications device in an uplink,the time divided slots of the wireless access interface each providing aplurality of symbols on one of more radio frequency carrier signalswhich can be configured differently for use by the communications deviceor the infrastructure equipment, the slot configuration informationincluding an indication that one or more of the plurality of symbols areto be used for transmitting signals from the infrastructure equipment orthat one or more of the plurality of symbols are to be used forreceiving signals from the communications device, and in accordance withthe received slot configuration information transmitting signals to thecommunications device in each of the one or more time slots on the oneor more of the symbols allocated from receiving signals, and receivingsignals from the communications device in each of the one or more timeslots on the one or more of the symbols allocated to the communicationsdevice for transmitting signals, wherein the transmitting the slotconfiguration information from the infrastructure equipment comprisestransmitting first slot configuration information from theinfrastructure equipment indicating the configuration of a firstplurality of the time slots, and transmitting, subsequently, at leastone other slot configuration information from the infrastructureequipment indicating the configuration of one or more of the firstplurality of time slots, and if the at least one other slotconfiguration information indicates that one or more of the symbols ofeach of the one or more time slots are configured differently to thefirst slot configuration information, determining a dynamiccharacteristic of the first slot information and the at least one otherslot information in accordance with a determination known to be appliedby the communications device, and determining a configuration of thedifferently configured one or more symbols as a determination would bemade by the communications device according to a conflict resolutionrule based on the determined dynamic characteristic of the first slotconfiguration information and the determined dynamic characteristic ofthe at least one other slot configuration information.
 18. Aninfrastructure equipment for forming part of a wireless communicationsnetwork, the infrastructure equipment comprising transmitter circuitryconfigured to transmit signals to one or more wireless communicationsdevices via a wireless access interface provided by the wirelesscommunications network, receiver circuitry configured to receive signalsfrom one or more of the communications devices transmitted via thewireless access interface, and controller circuitry for controlling thetransmitter circuitry and the receiver circuitry to transmit the signalsto the one or more communications devices and to receive signals fromthe one or more communications devices to communicate the data, thecontroller circuitry being configured with the transmitter circuitry andthe receiver circuitry to transmit to at least one of the communicationsdevices slot configuration information indicating a configuration of oneor more time divided slots of a wireless access interface provided bythe wireless communications network for transmitting the data to thecommunications device in a downlink and receiving the data from thecommunications device in an uplink, the time divided slots of thewireless access interface each providing a plurality of symbols on oneof more radio frequency carrier signals which can be configureddifferently for use by the communications device or the infrastructureequipment, the slot configuration information including an indicationthat one or more of the plurality of symbols are to be used fortransmitting signals from the communications device or that one or moreof the plurality of symbols are to be used for receiving signals at thecommunications device, the transmitted slot configuration informationcomprising first slot configuration information indicating theconfiguration of a first plurality of the time slots, and at least oneother slot configuration information indicating the configuration of oneor more of the first plurality of time slots, wherein the controllercircuitry is configured with the receiver circuity and the transmittercircuitry to determine, if the at least one other slot configurationinformation indicates that one or more of the symbols of each of the oneor more time slots are configured differently to the first slotconfiguration information, a dynamic characteristic of the first slotinformation and the at least one other slot information known to beapplied by the communications device, to determine a configuration ofthe differently configured one or more symbols as a determination whichwould be made by the communications device according to a conflictresolution rule based on the determined dynamic characteristic of thefirst slot configuration information and the determined dynamiccharacteristic of the at least one other slot configuration information,to transmit the signals in each of the one or more time slots on the oneor more of the symbols allocated from transmitting signals to thecommunications device, and to receive the signals from thecommunications device in each of the one or more time slots on the oneor more of the symbols allocated for receiving signals from thecommunications device.